Defence boss bats for Katich

Jesse Hogan and Chloe Saltau

Simon Katich arrives for the press conference on June 10 at which he gave the selectors a serve. Photo: Getty Images

WHAT are the differences between reviled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Australia's chief cricket selector Andrew Hilditch? Much less than you would expect, according to Defence Minister Stephen Smith.

Three months after railing against the "atrocities" being committed against Libyan citizens during an uprising, Smith yesterday became a most unlikely dissident about the axing of Simon Katich from Cricket Australia's contract list last week.

Smith said his fellow West Australian Katich — who moved to New South Wales in mid-2002 — was the victim of an "extraordinary" blunder by Australia's selectors, who have been led by Hilditch for the past five years.

After explaining the government's view on the war in Afghanistan, unrest in Libya, immigration policy and criticism of Labor by revered party elder John Faulkner, Smith passionately accepted a gentle prompt on ABC TV's Insiders to respond to the contentious decision to shun 35-year-old Katich.

"Historically, of course, there have been a series of atrocities committed by the Australian Cricket Board, or Cricket Australia, or the Australian selectors against West Australian cricketers, but this one is extraordinary . . . very high at the top of the list," he said.

"This is a bloke who, over the last 30 Tests he's played has got nearly 3000 runs, an average of 50 and done better than [Ricky] Ponting and Mike Hussey."

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(Smith was well researched. Since October 2008, the left-hander scored 2609 runs at an average of 49.23, whereas Ponting has averaged 38.30 and Hussey has averaged 38.62.)

"It's an extraordinary decision . . . while it's always easy to take a shot at selectors, it says a lot more about the selectors than it does against Simon Katich.

"I think, frankly, it sends very much a message which has undermined confidence in the selectors [and raises whether] they are really up to the task in terms of managing a transition to the next generation of Australian cricketers.

"Simon Katich has got the resolve and the grit and the determination that you want to have during hard times so it's an extraordinary decision.

"If he is not one of the top 25 Australian cricketers — and I can't find one better opener on that list, let alone two — then I'll go he for chasey."

Cricket Australia chief spokesman Peter Young said it had a very good relationship with Smith and laughed off his criticism.